Home (Summer Series #1)

Kabanata XIII

Nagsimula na ang hectic week na inaabangan naming Grade 12 students. The week was full of reportings, group activities, paperworks and surprise quizzes. Matamlay akong pumunta ng music room dahil sa pagod na naramdaman nitong linggo. My mind is so drained! Wednesday is our free day, pero heto ako ngayon at nasa university dahil ngayon ang unang practice ng banda.

I don't even know why am I going anyway. Alauna na nang hapon. Kung hindi lang dahil kay Luigi, malamang nasa bahay ako at nakatalukbong pa rin ng kumot ang aking katawan o kaya naman nagbabasa ng mga libro. My mind tells me that I shouldn't go because of Nate but he told me that he will never bother me again so I guess there's no reason why I wouldn't go, right?

Pumasok ako ng music room at nakitang kumpleto na ang miyembro ng banda. Medyo maingay dahil nagkakanya kanya sila ng practice sa kanilang mga instruments. I found Luigi sitting in the sofa while Rose was talking with her cousin, Sebastian. Nahagip ng paningin ko ang drummer na tinutukoy ni Nate sa akin, it was Grayson Montero.

"Hi beautiful! How are you?"

A playful smile was plastered in Sebastian's lips. According to him, my name means beautiful woman. That's why ever since that day, he calls me beautiful. I find it friendly not flirty,though. Piningot ni Rose ang kaniyang kanang tainga kahit na hirap itong abutin dahil sa tangkad nito.

"I told you, flirt with everyone, wag lang ang bestfriend ko." Pinandilatan ni Rose ang kanyang pinsan.

"Chill,couz. Ganoon naman ang tawag ko sakanya dati pa."

"Tigilan mo, Basti!" May gigil sa tono ni Rose at hinampas pa ang kanang braso ni Basti.

Umiling na lamang ako sa nagaaway na magpinsan. Nilingon ko ang ibang miyembro at nakita kong papunta sa aking direksyon si Grayson kasama si Tyler. I know him since junior high and he's one of the top students in our strand. Pero ngayon ko lang nalaman na tumutugtog pala siya ng drums.

"Hi there! I am Tyler." I shake hands with him while giving him a genuine smile. Halata sa kaniya na may parte siyang banyaga. His pale skin and aqua eyes tells it so.

"We already know each other. So I guess there's no room for formality. Magkaedad lang naman tayo." He let out a laugh and raise his hand for a high-five. Inapiran ko siya at natawa rin sa sinabi niya.

"Grayson, right? I didn't know you play drums. Akala ko super nerd ka. No offense, though." Sabi ko

"Gray na lang. And yeah, playing drums is just a hobby. Naisipan ko lang sumali para mabawasan ang pressure sa pagaaral. That way, teachers won't be that anxious kapag wala akong gana sa klase." Ngumisi siya.

Tumango ako at sumang-ayon sa sinabi niya. Sabi nga nila, huwag magpakasubsob sa pag-aaral. We still need to have our own recreational activities para mawala ang stress at pressure. May sasabihin pa sana ako ngunit hindi ko naituloy dahil sa feedback ng microphone.

"We're here to rehearse, not to chit chat." ika ni Nate habang nakatingin sa direksyon namin.

Tumikhim ako at tinignan si Gray. Is he referring to us? Matalim ang titig na binigay ko siya while his brow just shot up with his hands in his pockets. Are we really doing this, Nate? Naalala ko ang sinabi niya noong hinatid niya ako sa mansyon. I gritted my teeth. I guess I've found my recreational activity after all. I smirked at the thought. Let's see the little girl you're referring to, Nate.

Nagsimula silang magpractice at sinimulang ayusin ang arrangement ng una nilang kakantahin. They picked out The Vamps' Can We Dance, mabilis nakapa ng mga miyembro ang tono at ritmo ng kanta. I can't help but watched in awe because of the charisma of this band. Their differences fitted into each other. Napapangiti ako dahil nakikita ko ang potensyal nila bilang isang sikat na banda.

I talk a lot of shit when I'm drinking, baby
I'm known to go a little too fast
Don't mind all my friends, I know they're all crazy
But they're the only friends that I have
I know I don't know you
But I'd like to skip the small talk and romance, girl
That's all I have to say so, baby, can we dance?

Natapos ang rehearsal nila bago mag-alastres at napagpasyahang umuwi na. Nang makalabas kami sa music room, Gray asks me about our homework in EarthSci.

"It wasn't stated in the module. Kaya hindi ko alam kung isasama ko yon since that is what I found when I did research about it."

"Ready mo na lang para sure. Pero wag mo na iindicate sa powerpoint. Parang additional information, ganun."

"Okay. Thanks, Carrie.Ingat."

He said with a thumbs up then walked to the other direction. Paniguradong sa library na naman ang tungo noon.

"Hoy!" Nagitla ako sa sigaw galing sa likuran ko. It was Rose and Luigi. Napakamot ako sa ulo ko, akala ko kung ano na.

"Wag nga kayo manggulat!"

"E, kasi naman, girl. Kung yelo ka lang siguro, tunaw na tunaw ka na." Kumunot ang aking noo sa sinabi ni Rose. Ano na naman ba iyon?

"Ha? Bakit?"

"Kanina. Noong kausap mo yung si Gray, your knight was throwing daggers at ya." Hagikhik ni Rose. Hindi ko pa rin maintindihan.

"Kung makatitig, akala mo walang bukas. Naggalit ata. Lagot ka" sabi ni Luigi at sabay pa silang humagalpak.

I bit my lower lip and a playful smile smothered in my face. Natigil ang dalawa sa reaksyon ko habang ako'y nagpipigil pa rin ng ngiti.

"Hoy! Aba't? Anong nginingiti mo diyan? Natutuwa ka pa?" Umiling ako.

"Hay. What a great day! Tara mag tuhog! My treat again."

Naguguluhang sumama ang dalawa sa akin palabas sa university. I'm not even starting yet. Guess this one's on me. Gaya ng pinangako ko , lumabas kami para kumain ng tuhog. I suddenly craved for these. Nagngingiti pa din ako habang iniisip ang inis na mukha ni Nate. It could've been better if I saw his face.

Niyaya ko ang dalawa sa playground pagkatapos naming kumain. Kaunting lakad lang naman mula university hanggang doon. Nagsimula kaming maglakad habang kumakain ng ice candy. Nakakatuwa lang dahil pinalaki akong ganito, unlike other rich kids who'll hesitate before eating these kind of foods or might just throw them away. Well, they're missing out a good vibe in every Filipino's life.

Tumakbo ako patungo sa swing na kadalasan naming inuupuan. The best thing about this playground is the ocean view. It almost looked like a seashore state park.

"What's with the mood, Carrie?" Nalilitong tanong ni Luigi.

"Wala. Di niyo ba namiss na pumunta dito?"

"Namiss. Pero something's up with you" sabi ni Rose at nangalumbaba habang nakatuon ang mga braso niya sa kanyang hita.

"You two are overreacting. Gusto ko lang kayo makasama. I feel like magiging sobrang hectic na talaga tayo." I let out a sigh because it was true. I'm afraid I will get preoccupied with acads, baka hindi na ko makasama sa kanila.

"Tss. Alam namin yon. Iba ang tinutukoy namin ni Luigi. Nagthank you ka na ba kay Nate?" Rose said with a serious tone. Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya. Did Nate tell her? Akala ko ba hindi niya sasabihin?!

"Don't look at me like that. Sabi ni Inay Fely noong tumawag ako sa inyo nung Biyernes ng gabi, si Nate ang nagalaga sa iyo."

"Hindi ka pa nagpapasalamat no? Nako naman, Carrie. Tapos natutuwa ka pa kanina noong nalaman mong mukha siyang galit kanina?" Luigi threw me an irritated look.

I was caught off guard from what Rose said. Should I thank him? Naalala ko ang lakad namin nung nagtungo kami ng resort. Ang nasa isip ko pa ay pinagplanuhan niya ito. Pero hindi, I'm sticking with my plan. If he wants games, I will play my bet. I will not fall for it this time. Not again.